Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcomed more than 4.3 million visits in the first half of the year, including its largest number of daily worshippers during Ramadan.
The place of worship has cemented its status as a leading global religious and cultural centre in recent years – with the latest six-monthly total well up on the 3.3 million visits recorded from January to the end of June last year and the 1.5 million registered in 2022.
This year's 4,379,258 visitors comprised of 2,584,425 residents and tourists and 1,765,698 worshippers.
A further 29,135 people used the jogging track on the grounds of the mosque during the period.
The mosque received a record 87,186 worshippers on April 5, which marked the 27th day of Ramadan.
Of this number, 70,680 Muslims gathered during the evening to observe Laylat Al Qadr, a significant occasion in the Islamic faith.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a striking focal point for celebrations during the holy month, opening its doors to thousands of worshippers to enjoy iftar.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre – which operates the mosque – prepared 2.15 million iftar meals this year, with 650,000 of these served up within the mosque.
Another 1.5 million meals were distributed across the capital to honour the generous spirit of the religious festival.
Global appeal
The mosque continues to draw visitors from all parts of the world
Official figures show 81 per cent of visits made were by people from outside the Emirates.
Asia led the way with 52 per cent of all visits, followed by Europe at 34 per cent, North America at 7 per cent, Africa and South America at 3 per cent each, and Australia at 1 per cent.
India had the largest number of visits at 22 per cent, followed by China at 11 per cent, Russia at 8 per cent and Germany and the USA at 4 per cent.
The mosque is a hugely popular attraction, ranking high on the travel itineraries of international visitors.
The place of worship was ranked first in the Top Attractions category in the Middle East by TripAdvisor.
Completed in 2007, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest in the UAE, spreading across 22,000 square metres.
It can host more than 40,000 worshippers at once.
it commemorates the legacy of the man whose name it bears, the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
In December, the mosque launched night tours aimed at travellers in transit who have limited time in the capital but wish to visit the landmark.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
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Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
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A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Our Time Has Come
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